Cushioning mechanism for calculating machines



Non 6, 1928.

A. A. HORTON CUSHIONING MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY S l WW Y Fly@ Nov. 6, 1928,.

A. A. HORTON CUSHIONING MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet @Mw YEMOR ZLQMQWM/Wg ATTORNEY l type bars jumping or Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN A. HOI'tTON, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BURROUGHS ADDING v MACHINE COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

CUSHIONING MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES.

Original application led January 29, 1926, Serial No. 84,616. Divided and this application led July 8, 1926. SerialNo. 121,070.

The invention relates to cushioning mechanism for calculating machines.

Calculating machines for listing and printing items and totals thereof are usually pro- 5 vided with type bars that are moved to differential positions in order to print the number that has been setup. The type bars are moved. as the mechanism is operated. by actuators that are released iorl movement m against stops that are differentially positioned by amount kevs. When the actuators are released their movement may be quite rapid and the stopping action may be quite sudden which may result in the rebounding beyond their proper position. The machine is coordinated so that the positioning ot the type bars as Well as the actuation oi the printing mechanism occurs in a relatively short period of time with the result that it the type bars jum when the actuating means is suddenly stopped the type may not be properly aligned on the printing line at the time that .printing occurs. the mechanism may also make an unpleasant `noise and result in undue Wear on the parts. The present invention relates to a novel means for cushioning the parts as they are stopped. The general object of the invention is to provide/lan improved cushioning means for use in accounting machines. particularly for preventing jumping oi' the type bars and associated parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear drawings. An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a calculating machine showing the parts pertinent to the present invention in norma-l position. i

Fig. 2 is a separated perspective view of one of the stop bars and the cushioning connections therefor.

Fig. -3 is a cross section and end elevation of one ofthe stop bars viewed from the rear on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the special vcharacter printing type bar and associated parts from the specification and This sudden stopping ofy showing the cushioning mechanism applied to these parts.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the cushioning mechanism shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a separated perspective view of the cushioning connection illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

The mechanism is illustrated in connection with a calculating machine of the type illustrated in my co-pending application. Serial No. 84.616. tiled January 29. 1926, o1 which this application is a division. The general structure of the calculating machine will be described only briefly in this case. reference being made to said co-pending application for details. The same reference numerals ,will4 be used in so far as possible to designate similar parts in the two applications.

The machine has a plurality of banks of amount keys 10 having stems 11 that project through the keyboard and are adapted to be positioned in the path of differentially located stops 252 on the stopbars 233. There is one of these stop bars for each bank of amount keys, their forward ends being bifurcated at 257 and slidably mounted in a comb plate 232 (Fig. 2) and their rear ends being connected te the vertical arm 234 of the actuator segments or racks 235 which operate the totalizer or counter pinions. Connected'to each actuator' rack is a type bar 264 moved vertically by the rack to different positions relative to the print-ing line on the platen 266.

The actuator racks 235 are held in their normal position illustrated in Fig. 3 by the cross bar 255 of a restoring bail 256, which is normally urged in a counter-clockwise direction by a spring 258 connected at one end to a trame stud 148 and at the other end to a stud 263 on one of the arms of the restoring bail. The bail is prevented from moving in a counter-clockwise direction by the engagement of a cam roller 260 carried by it with the raised portion of a cam 73, the normal position ofthe parts being illustrated in Fig. '1.

The machine is driven by a main shaft 71 that is given a forward and a return stroke of movement, the return stroke being assisted by the springs 96 which are tensioned during the forward stroke. When the handle of the machine is pulled forward the cam 73`isrocked counter-clockwise which permits the cam roller 260 to move down onto a lower p ortion of the cam edgel whereupon the spring 258 rocks the bail counter-clockwise and releases the actuator racks 235 for the banks of keys in which an amount key has beendepressed. Suitable zero stops 197 are provided for preventing forward movement of the stop bars and movement of the actuator racks 'for banks of keys in which no keys have been depressed. The operation of these zero stops is fully described in my co-pending applic-ation to which reference is made for a` l detailed description.

lVhen the racks are released they are rocked counter-clockwise by sprmgs 250 which normally urge the stop bars 233 forward. The forward ends of these springs are connected to a rod 251 on the forward side of the comb plate 233 and the rear ends to cushioning devices for each stop bar. These springs move their respective stop bars and racks until they lare suddenly stopped by the engagement of the stops 252 on thevbars with a stem .11 of a depressed key 1n their respective banks.

-Thecushioning connection is preferably located between the stop bars 233 and the' arms 234 of the actuator segments. Projecting laterally from the upper end of each arm 234 is a pin 239 provided with a groove. This pin projects through an oblong slot 241 1n its associated stop bar 233. The stop bar accordingly has a limited movement relative to the pin and therefore relative to the actuator segment and its type bar. A connecting piece 243 is provided having an arm 244 and a lateral projection 245 which engages against the side of the bar 233. It also has a lower projection 246 the edge of which engages the under side of the bar 233 and is provided' with a shoulder 247 engaging al notch 248 formed by a projection on the bar 233, which notch is wide enough to permit the shoulder to rock in the notch as will appear presently. The connecting piece 243 `also has a recess 249 the edges of which project into the groove in the stud 239. Springs 250 are connected at one end .to the arms 244 to normally urge the connecting pieces in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. The -opposite ends of these springs are held in position by a'rod 251 which engages the forward face of the comb plate 232. As previously mentioned, the springs move the stop bars forwardly whenthe actuator racks are released by the raising of the restoring bail 256.

l Vhen a stop bar 233 is abruptly arrested, its segment carrying the stud 239 may move forward a slight distance relative to it, since the stud 239 may move forward in the oblong slot 241, but the stud can move only by rotating the connecting piece 243 in a countervis stopped in different clockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 2) against the tension of spring 250, the connect-ing piece lmoving about the forward edge ot .shoulder 247-isa pivot. The spring 250 thus takes the shock and givesa cushioning effect which prevents thesrndden stopping of the bar 233 from causing the segments 235 and their type bars to vibrate or jump.

For example, if one of the segments 235 moves relative to its stop bar to carry itstype bar past the correct position, it lmust do so against the .tension of its spring 250 and as soon as the shock of stopping the parts is dissipated, this spring returns the segment and'type bar to correct position and prevents any further jumping. It will beobserved that rebound' of the type bar relative to the platen during the printing operation is prevented by the spring 269 which retracts the type bar from the platen surface.

In addition to cushioning the shock, the connecting piece and spring serve to counter balance the Vweight of the forward end of the bar-233 through the medium ot' the projection 246 whose shoulder 247 is normally urged' against the edge of notch 248 below the pivot Aof the stop bar on pin 239. This tends to lift the front end of the bar and counterbalance its weight.y The forward end of the bar is thus prevented from vibrating and the lift of the parts is lengthened by lessening the friction due to the weight of the bar sliding on the comb plate 232.

It will be noted that the springs 250 serve three purposes: They move the stop bars when the machine is operated; they counterbalance a portion of the weight of the stop bars, and they act to prevent the shock of the stopping of the bars from being transmitted to the actuator racks and type bars.

Although the cushioning connection has been illustrated between the stop bar and the actuator segment it will be understood that it might be otherwise located and one other location has been illustrated and described 1n connection with the character printing mechanlsm shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive.

n The lower end of the character type bar 264 1s ,connected to an actuator segment or rack 351 similar to the actuator segments 235 except that it does not have an arm 234 and itis notstopped by stop bars but vby a positioning device for causing the proper character to be printed to indicate what operation has taken place in the machine. .Tournaled on the shaft 237 to the right of the bail 256 is a. yokeshaped member 352 having a downwardly and rearwardly extending warm 353 and an upwardly extending arm 354. 'The arm 353 is connected to the actuator segment 351 through a cushioning device and the arm 354 positions by a stepped segment 35S which ma)v be set in various positions in the manner described in my copending application and is not material to an understanding of the cushioning connect-ion.

vThe outer end of the arm 353 is provided with a slot 353n iitting over a pin 355 on the segment 351, the slot being of slightly greater Width than the diameter of the pin as shown in Figs. and 7. A connecting piece 356 having a slot 356a in ittits into a notch in the pin 355. This connecting piece has a shoulder 356b Which projects under the arm 353 as illustrated in Fig. 7. A spring 357 connected to an arm of the connecting piece serves to normally urge it in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. lVben the arm 354 issuddenly stopped, the segment 351 can continue its movement a limited distance since the pin 355 can move in the slot 353 in the end of arm 353. However, movement of the pin 355 carries with it the connecting piece 356 which rocks counter-clockwise (Fig. 4) about the shoulder 356" against the tension of spring 357 which thus absorbs the shock.

It is to be understood that the structure shown is for purposes of illustration and that variations may be made in it Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: l

1. The combination in a calculating machine of` a member adapted to be moved and suddenly stopped, a second member connected to the first by a pin and slot connection, a

,. pivoted connecting p-iece between said members normally urged in one direction by a spring, said connecting piece being connected to .the two members so that, as the first member is stopped, movement of the second member relative to the irst will turn the connectingpiece about the pivot against the ac.- tion of the spring, said connecting piece also engaging the first member to counter-balance a portion of the weight of the said member.

2. The combination in a calculating machine of a member adapted to be moved and suddenly stopped, a second member having a pin engaging a slot in the first member',l a connecting piece pivot-ed on the pin and having a shoulder engaging a. projection on the first member, and a spring connected to an arm on the connecting piece for normallyI vholding the lshoulder against thc projection.

3. The combination in a calculating machine ot a movable type bar, an actuating means for moving the typebanmeans for arresting movement of the actuating means, and

a shock absorbing device for preventing the' jar of stopping the actuating means from be- 'ing transmitted to tlietype bar.

4. The combination in a calculating machine-of a movable type bar` an actuating device therefore movable against a stop, means for moving the actuating device, and means for causing the moving means to absorb the shock of the stopping of the bar.

5. The combination in a calculating machine of a series of stop bars adapted to be moved to differential positions and suddenly stopped, a type bar for each stop bar, conL nections between the type bars and the stop bars tocause the type bars to move to difierential positions with the stop bars to position the type bars relative to a printing line, y

chine of a series of type bars, an actuating,

means for each type bar normally restrained against movement but released under predetermined conditions during the operation of the machine, differentially positioned stops for arresting movement of the actuating means when released during operation of the machine, anda shock absorbing device for each actuat-ing means to prevent the jar of stopping the actuating means Jfrom being transmitted to the type bars.

7. The combination in a calculating machine of a series of stop bars movable against stops, an actuator segment for each bar, and a shock absorbing device for each bar and segment to prevent the jar of stopping the bars from being transmitted to the segments.

8. The combination in a calculating machine of a series of stop bars movable against stops, an actuator segment for each bar, and shock absorbing connections between the stop bars and their respective actuator segments.

9. The combination in a calculating machine o a series of stop bars movable against stops, means for moving the stop bars against said stops, an actuator segment for each bar. and connectingmeans between each bar and its respective segment to cause the means for moving the bar to prevent the shock of stopping the bar from being transmitted to the segment.

10. The combination in a calculating machine of a series of stop bars adapted to be moved and suddenly stopped, an actuator segment connected to each bar to move with it and to have a limited movement relative to it, and means for cushioning the movement ot the segment relative to the bar when the bar is suddenly stopped.

11. The combination in a calculating machine of a series of stop bars adapted to be moved and suddenly stopped, an actuator segnient connected to each bar to move with it and to have a limited movement relative to it, means for moving the bar, and -means Jfor causing the movi-ng means to cushion the movement of the segment relative to the bar when the bar is suddenly stopped.

12. The combination in a calculating maagainst differentially positioned stops,

chine of a series of stop bars movable against v stops, an actuator segment for each stop bar,v

between one end of each stop bar 'and its respective actuator'segment, said devices also serving to counter-balance the other ends of the sliding bars.

14. The combination in a calculating machine of a sliding stop bar having a forked end sliding in a guide, a second member, and a shock absorbing device between the stop bar and the second member, said device including means for causing it to counter-balance the forked end of the stop bar to take the weight of the sliding bar ofi' the guide.

15. The combination in a calculating machine ofl a plurality of stop` bars movaple a p urality of actuating segments moved by said stop bars, springs for moving said stop bars against said stops when the segments are released during operation of the machine, and'4 shock absorbing connections between the stop bars an'd the actuating segments for causing plurality of sliding stop bars mov-- said springs to prevent the jar ofthe stopping of the bars from being transmitted to the segments.

tween each stop bar/and its actuator, a' pivotedconnecting piece between each bar and its a-ctuator, and a spring connected to each connecting piece to move its stop bar, said connecting piece being connected to its bar and. actuator so v that, as the stop .bar is stopped, movement ofthe actuator relative to the barturns the connecting piece on its pivot against the action of the spring.

17. The combination in a calculating machine of a plurality of type bars movable' to diferential positions relative to the printing line of a platen, means for moving said bars to said positions as the machine is operated, means for stopping the moving means in differential positions to thereby stop the bars in 'differential positions, and a cushioning means between the moving means and the type bars for cushioning the typev bars against the jar of stopping the moving means and for damping any rebound jumping of the type bars relative to the printing line.

In testimony whereof, Iy have subscribed my name. f

ALLEN A. HoRroN.

v 16. The combination in a calculating ma-l 

